The Future Photonics Hub together with the Physics & Technology of Metadevices & Metasystems Programme Grant and the Silicon Photonics for Future Systems Programme Grant have available a ‘partnership fund’ of up to £350k* in total, to enable the inclusion of academic partners that bring additional value to these key EPSRC-funded projects. We are inviting proposals from UK-based academic researchers for projects that contribute to the areas outlined below, grouped according to their funding.

General submission guidance

This announcement comprises three separate calls for proposals:

The Future Photonics Hub Innovation Fund – £260k

The Metadevices & Metasystems Programme Grant Innovation Fund – £40k

Silicon Photonics for Future Systems (SPFS) Innovation Fund – £50k

The following general submission guidance applies to each of the three calls. Where specific conditions apply, these are stated in the section for that particular call.

Eligibility

The Call for Proposals is open to any UK-based academic research group or individual. Proposals from disciplines other than photonics are welcome.

Requirements and criteria

Proposals should be submitted to the email address specified under the relevant call heading. Two-page proposals should be written in a minimum 11 point font size and include the project title, names of the investigators, brief description, start date and expected duration and costs at Full Economic Cost (FEC). *Grants will be funded at 80% FEC. We expect to fund a number of projects under each call.

Proposals should contain an explanation of how the proposed work fits into the frame of the programme’s objectives and what added value it brings to a specific call topic. The PI and Co-I(s) of all funded projects will be required to engage fully with the programme and to attend consortium meetings as required during the lifetime of the project, including: on commencing, mid-project, and at the end of the project. In addition, within one month of the end of the project, a final report will be submitted highlighting the project outcomes and impact.